WCDS Celebrates Constitution Week

On Wednesday, September 19th, the Wakefield Assembly focused on democracy, beginning with a celebration of the United States Constitution in recognition of Constitution Week. The members of the Advanced Placement U. S. Government class presented a skit, first illustrating the challenge of creating a nation. The narrator began by saying,

“Fifty-five men gathered together in Philadelphia one muggy summer in 1787, trying to create a nation. It would take three and a half months of quarreling and compromise. But somehow those men managed to hammer out the framework for our nation’s constitution. Now think to your own lives. When was the last time you successfully changed anyone’s mind about anything?”

The skit then showed students on a sports bus returning from a game debating where they should stop for dinner and unable to reach agreement. The audience responded with knowing chuckles. Then the narrator took his audience back in time to a debate among James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, Benjamin Franklin, and George Washington, mentioning issues such as a king versus a president, states’ rights, and checks and balances. As the historic characters (in colonial costumes and wigs) signed the final draft, the narrator said,

“Countries from around the world have copied our Constitution, and it has been a model for democratic government. It is the oldest and shortest of all written and national constitutions in the world. . . . So from here on out, forget the fireworks of July 4th, and instead remember the dedication and spirit of September 17!”

Wakefield Class Officers and Prefects Chosen

During the weekly assembly, Student Government president and vice president Marguerite Beattie and Joy Heddleston swore in the new 2007/2008 Wakefield Country Day School class representatives and class prefects. This year’s elected representatives are: Evan Lester (4th), Madison Romine (5th), Alex Foster (6th), Hailey Miller (7th), John Morgan Christoph (8th), Bret Heddleston (9th), Katie Huang (10th), Sean O’Connor (11th), and Katherine Russo (12th). Students appointed to the Prefect Court are: Aljo Rodriguez (7th), Cynthia Rodriquez (8th), Ryan Ochoa (9th), Annelise Riedel (10th), Rachael Carrier (11th), and Emma Clark (12th). Together they pledged to faithfully execute the office of prefect/class representative in accordance with the Student Government Charter, to use that office to benefit their peers, and to support, defend, and preserve “the Wakefield Way” to the best of their abilities.